A true reinterpretation of a 1970s icon, the Amida Digitrend OSII Black combines bold visual design with mechanical engineering. A timepiece with character, designed for collectors seeking unique timepieces and disruptive design.
A Legacy That Defies Conventions
The rebirth of the Amida Digitrend proves that a timepiece can make a splash without resorting to artifice. Born amid the effervescence of the 1970s, this watch displayed the time in profile through prismatic reflection. A display that evokes the gauges of a sports car more than a traditional dial. Its soul remains steadfastly mechanical, even as its aesthetics flirt with the digital age.
Relaunched in 2024 by Matthieu Allègre and Clément Meynier, the Digitrend preserves the offbeat identity that has forged its legend. It is part of the golden age of watch design in the 1970s, an era permeated by influences from the automotive world and the nascent electronics industry—much like the Girard-Perregaux Casquette or the Bulova Computron. Amida, however, has chosen a more demanding path: bringing time to life through the ballet of mechanical discs rather than liquid crystals.
Mastering the Dark
With the OSII Black, the Swiss brand addresses a shortcoming that is almost ironic for a timepiece of this caliber: its nighttime readability. In a rotating-disc mechanism, the numerals remain hidden until they pass through the display window, rendering traditional luminescent treatments ineffective. The solution devised is a testament to horological ingenuity.
The module is now topped by a monobloc sapphire cover that subtly diffuses light. The numerals, enhanced with Super-LumiNova BGW9, are accompanied by delicate luminous accents for optimal illumination. The effect is no longer merely spectacular; it becomes fundamentally functional.
High-Tension Architecture
The aesthetics of this OSII Black were crafted with the precision of an automotive design studio. The module’s frame, finished in black DLC, is traversed by two tubes that distinctly evoke a roll bar. The intention is clear: the Digitrend moves away from the conventions of the classic dress watch to embrace the streamlined lines of a fastback coupe.
The contrast with previous iterations marks a shift toward minimalism. The iconic orange numerals give way to a brilliant white, accented by subtle orange engravings. The watch gains a sense of understated elegance while maintaining its distinctive character, thereby maximizing the readability of its extraordinary display.
Precision Mechanics and a Radical Approach
Beneath this in-house-developed jumping hour module beats a Soprod automatic mechanical movement. With a power reserve ranging from 38 to 44 hours, this movement ensures modern reliability for a complication of great technical complexity.
Crafted from 316L stainless steel, the case features well-balanced proportions (39.6 mm wide by 39 mm long and 15.6 mm thick) and is water-resistant to 50 meters. Strictly limited to 150 pieces, the OSII Black is available on a steel bracelet or an elegant black Alcantara strap lined with orange leather. The Alcantara version is priced at approximately 5,150 CHF before tax, while the stainless steel version costs 5,500 CHF.
Far from seeking consensus or indulging in facile nostalgia, this Digitrend is aimed first and foremost at connoisseurs of design. In an industry where neo-vintage designs sometimes lack boldness, Amida delivers a vibrant reinterpretation of its heritage. For a creation born in an era when people dreamed of the future in broken lines, this is undoubtedly the most beautiful tribute to the futurism of yesteryear.